Recent news from the Chinese-language newspapers.
Taiwan market: Second-tier LCD-monitor maker offers aggressive pricing
Grainew is offering 17-inch Neoscan-branded monitors manufactured by the Chi Mei Group (panels from CMO) at prices under NT$8,000. [EDN, Oct 5]
The long vacation in China is driving low-end memory prices up
Spot prices of DDR266 and DDR333 rose 3.5% and 2%, respectively, October 4, as demand in China continued to grow, local memory distributors indicated. Sources said that there is particularly strong demand for low-end memory. [DigiTimes]
Passive-component maker announces September revenues up 52% on-year
Holy Stone Enterprise is reporting its September revenues at NT$1.6 billion, up 16% sequentially and 52% for the same period a year ago. The company also recorded sequential revenue growth of 25% for the third quarter and expects further growth in the fourth quarter. [DigiTimes]
Ritek outpaces Mitsubishi in monthly DL DVD-R output, say sources
Sources indicated that Ritek is outputting 100,000 2.4x single-sided double-layer DVD-R discs per month, outpacing Mitsubishi's output. Mitsubishi, which already has a production line in Singapore, plans to set up a second production line. [Commercial Times, Oct 5]
Winbond to volume-produce ISP chip for 1.3- to 2-megapixel camera phones in 1Q 2005
Winbond's recently developed image-signal-processor (ISP) chip for 1.3- to 3-megapixel handsets will start sampling to camera-module suppliers in late October. [DigiTimes]
PCB maker Gia Tzoong to invest US$9 million in new China plant
Gia Tzoong Enterprise is to invest US$5 million and US$4 million, respectively, in the first and second stage of its Jiangmen (Guangdong Province) plant. Planned monthly capacity is 30,000 units, and construction will be complete in 2005. [DigiTimes]
Handset-panel maker Wintek doubles August revenues from a year ago
STN (CSTN) LCD maker Wintek reported August consolidated revenues of NT$3.3 billion, a jump of 119% on-year and 27% on-month. Wintek plans to shift another of its four Monochrome STN LCD lines to CSTN production by year-end. [DigiTimes]
ChipMOS chairman resigns from Mosel board
ChipMOS chairman and CEO S.J. Cheng has resigned from the board of directors of Mosel Vitelic, a major shareholder in ChipMOS. Cheng was a supervisor of Mosel. [Taiwan Stock Exchange, Oct 4]
Lite-On Semiconductor hits record-high revenues in September
Lite-On Semiconductor's un-audited revenues rose 0.4% sequentially in September to NT$861 million, a record high. Revenues from the image-sensor segment grew 39.37% on-year, while discrete ICs rose 15% from the same period a year ago. The former contributed 64% of the total. [DigiTimes]
LED maker Arima Optoelectronics expects strong monthly revenues in 4Q
Arima Optoelectronics enjoyed strong revenues in September, with a record high NT$270 million. The company's LD (laser diode) production line has become its primary growth driver. Monthly revenues are projected to reach NT$240 million in 4Q. [DigiTimes]
Taiwan market: Dopod to launch Windows-based PDA phone in mid-October
Dopod Communication will launch a dual-mode PDA phone with Wi-Fi network capabilities in Taiwan by mid-month. The Windows-based device, made by High Tech Computer (HTC), offers quad-band GSM/GPRS mobile-network access and a slide-to-open keypad. [udn.com, Oct 5]
Article edited by John McClure
